THE EARTHQUAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1917, Page 7

THE EARTHQUAKE.

o ■■ LEAVES GAPS BEHIND. Wellington Times' Correspondent. MasterUin, August 8. Reports received from various part* of the district Bhow that there hav« been fairly big openings made in $w earth. Particularly is this so in tha Mauriceville district and towards the East Coast. A number of additional shocks were felt yesterday, there being a very pronounced one at 2.40 p.m. At Wangaehu no less than twentyeight shocks were felt on Monday. In some parts of the Whareama district the configuration of the country has changed considerably, there being small hillocks wbcro previously there was flat land. In the Bideford district there have been small emissions of steam. A BURGLAR SURPRISED. A sensational incident is reported in connection with the big shock on Monday morning. A Masterton resident, on going to bad on Sunday night, closed the door and window of the bedroom. Waking up with the earthshake, she discovered the window up, tlio door open, and a man disappearing through the latter. It is surmised that the 'nocturnal visitor was a burglar, whose operations were disturbed by the earthquake. AN EXPERIENCE. "To be working alone on the top story of a concrete building while it is rocking as if on the verge of collapse, and to have the sensation accentuated by the rattling of ink-bottles and the calls of frightened human beings is not one to be envied," writes a correspondent to a Masterton paper. "Such, however, was my experience. The approaching shake was announced by a rumbling noise, and the twitching of the building told of its arrival. My first impulse was to sit tight and bravely see it out. The tremor, however, increased with such violence that things about the room began to move. 'Good God, I am doomed!' I exclaimed as, on rising from the seat, I was pitched about as if on the deck of a boat in a rough tea. My first thoughts were for my wife and family. My next, well—what were yours? A man always tries to be brave in the midst of trouble, but he prefers to meet it in the open. I rushed for the staircase, expecting every moment during the hurried descent to meet the sound of falling mortar and brickwork. I reached the street, where others had gone before me, but it seemed to no advantage, as the swaying was almost as violent as it was upstairs (though, of course, the feeling of lonesomeness liad disappeared), and the rattling and gruesome noises continued. In a few more seconds it was all over, f.nd then followed the hum of excited voices in' the street. It was a great! (train, and when my nerves had subtided to almost normal, a tow minute* later, I ventured back to my room upetairs. The stay, however, was only temporary. Uncanny, creaking sounds recalled the happenings of a few minutes previous, and I left for the bosom »f my frightened family. An experience of this kind twice in a lifetime •will more than sufliee my normal , cravings for sensational happenings."